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Obituaries — February 2026

Bergren, the Rev. John H.
87, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Dec. 17, 2025. Calls: Messiah, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; academic dean, Lutheran Bible Institute, Issaquah, Wash.; Trinity, Ventura, Calif.; Faith, Redmond, Wash.; director, donor and church relations, Lutheran Bible Institute; Family of God, Bremerton, all Wash.
Buch, the Rev. Ronald M.
82, Surprise, Ariz.; Jan. 13, 2026. Calls: Trinity, Sioux City, Iowa; director of chaplaincy and social services, Northwest Community Hospital, Arlington Heights, Ill.
Campbell, the Rev. Brian R.
61, Midwest City, Okla.; Feb. 8, 2026. Calls: Immanuel, Bluefield, W.Va.; Our Savior, Greenwood, Wis.; St. Mark, Midwest City; All Saints, Oklahoma City, both Okla.
Dennison, the Rev. David G.
82, Chicago; Dec. 12, 2025. Calls: missionary serving in Cameroon; staff, South Dakota District, ALC Division for World Mission and Inter-church Cooperation, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Holy Trinity, Port Angeles, Wash.; Faith, Portland, Ore.; Bethany, Elkader; St. Stephen, Cedar Rapids, both Iowa; director for global mission education and associate director for global relationships, ELCA Division for Global Mission, Chicago; Christ, Vernon Hills; interim, ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod, both Ill.
Ericksen, the Rev. John R.
91, Casa Grande, Ariz.; Dec. 18, 2025. Calls: West Akers and First of Arland, Prairie Farm; Bethel, Oconto; Our Redeemer, Suring; Central Chippewa Falls, all Wis.
Gazzolo, the Rev. Barbara L.
94, Evanston, Ill.; Feb. 1, 2026. Call: St. James, Lake Forest, Ill.
Halvorson, the Rev. Rollen M.
89, Alexandria, Minn.; Dec. 22, 2025. Calls: Grace, Belview; Faith, Spicer, both Minn.; Zion, Shawano, Wis.; Gloria Dei, Redwood, Falls, Minn.
Hardy, the Rev. David E.
79, Tucker, Ga.; Dec. 13, 2025. Calls: Trinity, St. John's NL; Zion, Sault Ste. Marie, ON; executive director, Canadian Lutheran World Relief, Winnipeg, MB, all Canada; Living Grace, Tucker.
Kahlenberg, the Rev. David P.
88, Westfield, Ind.; Jan. 31, 2026. Calls: St. Paul, Washington, D.C.; Pleasant View, Indianapolis.
Kistler, the Rev. David N.
93, Topton, Pa.; Jan. 25, 2025. Calls: Christ, Claysburg; St. Matthew, Shamokin Dam; senior counselor, Voluntary Improvement Program; chaplain, Hamburg Center, Hamburg, all Pa.
Koch, Deacon Carol A.
84, Wernersville, Pa.; Jan. 26, 2026. Call: director of Christian education and administrative assistant, Trinity, Wernersville.
Kramer, the Rev. Kenneth W.
90, Meade, Kan.; Jan. 5, 2026. Calls: St. Olaf and Zion, Odin; Glenwood, Glenwood; Silverton and Silver Creek, Thief River Falls; Nazareth, Holt; Cross, Nisswa; Concordia, Moorhead; Scandia, Averill, all Minn.; Peace, Plymouth; St. Paul, Emerson, both Neb.
Meyer, the Rev. Roy D.
88, Williamsport, Pa.; Jan. 21, 2026. Calls: St. John, Lindenhurst; St. Paul, Kingston; St. Barnabas, Howard Beach, all N.Y.; chaplain, U.S. Penitentiary, Terre Haute, Ind.; chaplain, Federal Prison Camp, Montgomery; chaplain, U.S. Penitentiary, Lewisburg; Emmanuel, Turbotville; Redeemer, Williamsport, all Pa.
Munneke, the Rev. Keith
89, Edwardsville, Mich.; Feb. 1, 2026. Calls: Abiding Savior, Milwaukee; Christ the King and executive director, Samaritan Family Health Center, Ind., South Bend, Ind.
Niemi, the Rev. B. Douglas
86, Ludington, Mich.; Feb. 3, 2026. Calls: Messiah, Bay City; Trinity, Greenville; Victory Trinity, Ludington, all Mich.
Olson, the Rev. George A.
100, Marinette, Wis.; Feb. 3, 2026. Calls: Sunne, Wilton, N.D.; Calvary, Rapid River; Trinity, Stonington, both Mich.; Good Shepherd, Peshtigo, Wis.
Puelle, the Rev. Frederick W.
91, Shelter Island, N.Y.; Dec. 28, 2025. Calls: Good Shepherd, Westboro; St. John, Westfield; Grace, West Springfield, all Mass.; St. Andrew, Bristol, Conn.
Schave, the Rev. Warren H.
90, Tallahassee, Fla.; Jan. 3, 2026. Calls: Grace, Lamar; St. Paul, Canon City, both Colo.; chaplain, Federal Prison Camp, Montgomery, Ala.; chaplain, Federal Correctional Institution, Ashland, Ky.; chaplain, U.S. Penitentiary, Terre Haute, Ind.; chaplain, Federal Prison, Pensacola; chaplain, Quincy Correctional Institution, Tallahassee, both Fla.